New System Doesn't Post and Can't Enter BIOS

[henryma]

I recently built my first new computer and after assembling it I tried to power iton, but it didnt power on. Then I use the CMOS switch and it turns it on, and it shows an image on the screen. Once in a while the power switch will turn the sytem on, but it doesnt show anything on the monitor. im pretty sure i did the front panel right also.
But when the computer turns on, the keyboard doesn't work and its stuck on the abit start-up screen showing the words Press TAB to show Post screen, DEL to enter SETUP. Any idea on what's wrong and what I should do?

my build is:
abit ip35p motherboard
2x1gb crucial ballistix tracers ddr2-800
Sapphire ati hd4850 512mb
intel c2d e7200 with stock heatsink and fan
rocketfish full tower aluminum case
antec earthwatt 430w
some random dvd-rom cd-drive i pulled from my old emachines
500gb wd sata2 hdd

 

[boomerang]

Make sure you've got the keyboard plugged into the correct port if it's a PS2 keyboard.

The system wants you to enter the BIOS because the BIOS was reset. This is normal. Just entering and exiting should make it happy. I think you've just got a keyboard related problem right now.

 

[henryma]

I tried another keyboard, and immediately in plugging it in, the numlock lights turn on and i can change numlock and w/e lights, but once it gets to the post and bios screen it can't change lights anymore, like no matter how many times i push numlock the lights wont turn on and off.

Also, maybe this is what caused it: I was trying to see if maybe hte processor was the problem like maybe i didnt put it on right, so i took off the heatsink and fan, and checked the processor but it was fine, but when i treid to put the heatsink and fan back on it cracked one of the corners of the pushpins. Would I need new thermal paste because of this ?

 

[jaythespacehound]

If I'm reading you right you removed the heatsink. When you put it back on you have to put fresh thermal paste on or you're very unlikely to get a nice clean 'bind'
Very likely your cpu is overheating.

 

[Old Hippie]

but once it gets to the post and bios screen it can't change lights anymore, like no matter how many times i push numlock the lights wont turn on and off.

If you're using a USB keyboard, you probably need to go into the BIOS and change the USB and keyboard settings from OS to BIOS.

ut when i treid to put the heatsink and fan back on it cracked one of the corners of the pushpins

If this means that one of the pushpins isn't installed correctly, it'll need to be fixed. New pushpin or HS, whatever it takes.

All pushpins must be installed correctly for proper temps.

 

[Ausm]

Refer to this post

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2203933&enterthread=y

 

[henryma]

I'm positive that all the standoffs are in the right places and the motherboards not touching the case. But I noticed that sometiems when i turn the system on with the CMOS switch, most of the time the LEDs on the top of hte Ballistix rams dont turn on, but when they do turn on, the system gives the good beep and then the picture shows, but the PS2 keyboard is still no go. Does this mean something?

 

[montag451]

Try swapping out RAM.
Put one stick in at a time. Doesn't cost anything to try.
Check the cpu fan is plugged in properly, though it should be as you probably wouldn't have got more than a second or two otherwise.
Try clearing BIOS again, and then try to get into BIOS setup.
Change the fault detect/startup option to continue if kb/mouse faults detected, and, as hippie says, make sure you have usb kb boot enabled (may need ps2 kb to change this setting though).

Post back

 

[henryma]

so after alot of experimenting, i noticed that if I flicked the cmos switch and the ram leds lit up, and if i let the cmos switch sit there for a little bit, and the ram lights suddenly flicker alot and I flick the switch back, it allows me to use the keyboard. Then I entered the BIOS and when I exit it, it goes to a black screen and doesn't do anything, and I just have to unplug it to turn it off. I do the same thing and try to post and run the windows xp setup, and it goes al the way to the blue screen and hangs at Setup is starting windows.

then I looked up online to fix the hanging problem, I have to chagne some settings in BIOS, but I can't change anything in bios because for one thing, I have to use the CMOS switch to turn it on, therefore wiping out all the settings in BIOS, and if I try to go from bios to posting, it just gives me the black screen.

oh and I've been trying it with one stick of ram as well

What now?

 

[montag451]

Have you been playing around with the CMOS button whilst the system is on?
I think you should be unplugged, or at least OFF before trying to reset the BIOS.

Unplug everything you don't need to boot into windows, like CD, sound card, modem/network, headers (except for the power button ) etc.
Any different?

 

[henryma]

The only way to actually turn on the system for me is to flick the CMOS button and then it'l turn on. Once in a while the power button will turn on the computer but the screen won't show anything. I have really nothing plugged into the computer except the essential parts I need, plus the CD drive for the winXP CD. and its still hung at setup is starting windows. I'm just gonna leave it at "Setup is starting Windows" until I get home and hope a miracle happens or something.

 

[montag451]

So the unit wont power up using the power button?

Can you unplug all the header connections before you do anything.

Just plug in one now - the power button. No others.

Go into BIOS. Have a look at your voltages for RAM and CPU. What are they?
What are your temperatures?

Can you see your hard drive registered in BIOS?

 

[boomerang]

Troubleshooting is a step-by-process. Skipping steps rarely gives good results.

Answer these questions;
Is the CPU heatsink securely fastened to the board?
Is the heatsink in firm contact with the processer?
Is the fan lead from the CPU cooler plugged in?
Is the 8 pin auxilliary power connector plugged into the board?
Is the 4 pin auxilliary power connector plugged into the board?

Assuming these answers are Yes;
Remove the board from the case. Put it on some cardboard and try to start it. Now, I know you don't think there's a short, but we need to do this step-by-step. If it won't start, reset the CMOS. Forget that button for now, reset it using the procedure outlined in your manual on page 1-4. Follow steps 1 through 6. IGNORE the easy way they have outlined below.

Then, try the memory one stick at a time. Next unplug everything you don't need. Have only the CPU, one stick of RAM and the video card in.

Report back.

 

[henryma]

montag451 - the temp of the CPU is 43C, voltages for RAM are on auto, and CPU is 1.175V. I do see my harddrive in SATA1, and i tried only the power header and it still didnt turn on the computer.

boomeraing - The first 3 answers are yes, but I only have one 8 power pin slot, and the 24 pin one, and my PSU only has a 4pin thing, and a 24 pin one so i plugged in both. I've just tried putting the motherboard on the cardboard box, and I plugged in only the powerswitch header, keyboard, video card, 1 stick of ram, and my cpu. It still goes to the bios and all, but right after exting the bios it just gives me that blank screen so i have to shut it down. It's the same out of the case as in =\

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: henryma
boomeraing - The first 3 answers are yes, but I only have one 8 power pin slot, and the 24 pin one, and my PSU only has a 4pin thing, and a 24 pin one so i plugged in both. I've just tried putting the motherboard on the cardboard box, and I plugged in only the powerswitch header, keyboard, video card, 1 stick of ram, and my cpu. It still goes to the bios and all, but right after exting the bios it just gives me that blank screen so i have to shut it down. It's the same out of the case as in =\

I downloaded the manual for the IP35Pro as I couldn't find (and still can't find) the manual for the IP35P. I just looked at the pics at Newegg on the IP35P and the power arrangement is completely different than the Pro. Sorry for my confusion.

Does your board look like this?

You said in an earlier post that you researched the hanging issue and that BIOS settings needed to be changed and then you talked about a Catch-22 situation.

Can you enter the BIOS, change those settings and then when it hangs at the black screen, shut the system down with the power switch on the back of the PS? Will it start normally afterwards?

Have you reset the CMOS following the procedure in the manual? I'm sorry but I actually don't know what page it is on because as I said, I was looking at the wrong manual.

I have seen boards with the BIOS "scrambled" right from the factory. Resetting the CMOS usually fixes it. I had a Gigayte board recently that I actually had to flash to the same BIOS version it had in it already to get it to work properly. That system has been running flawlessly for a month now. I was about to give up and RMA it too. By using the button on the board, you are just resetting a BIOS that may have been "scrambled" right out of the box. Only by doing a true reset do you have a chance of clearing it up. Does this make sense the way I explained it?

Edit: Just zoomed in close at Newegg on your board. It looks like the button may be the only way to reset the CMOS. Looks as though there are no jumper pins. Please look in the manual and see if there is a procedure where you perhaps remove the battery to reset it.

 

[henryma]

I took out the battery and put it back in, but still there's no difference. I tried to save my settings in BIOS but still it gives me the blank black screen and then I had to shut it down.

 

[boomerang]

RMA time. I've never called Abit, but that's an option too. You may be able to RMA directly through them.

 

[henryma]

alright i guess. thanks everyone for your help! specially you boomerang!